ASPEN, Colo. – Oct. 9, 2025 – As Aspen Snowmass gears up for another unforgettable winter season, the resort is proud to debut major on-mountain enhancements, including two new lifts at Snowmass, a range of new food and beverage experiences, lift ticket art by renowned artist Ed Ruscha, and a powerhouse events calendar that features the naming of the 2026 U.S. Olympic Ski & Snowboard Team and the 25th year of X Games. Here’s what’s new and noteworthy for the 2025-26 winter season:
Two New Lifts and Major Upgrades at Snowmass
Elk Camp Six-Pack: This winter brings a new high-speed six-passenger lift, replacing the Elk Camp quad. It will significantly reduce wait times and improve capacity.
Cirque T-Bar: Replacing the existing platter lift, this high-altitude T-Bar doubles capacity and improves access to Snowmass’ premier expert terrain.
The addition of these upgraded lifts marks the first time in nearly 20 years that two new lifts will debut in a single season.
Ullrhof Transformation (Coming Winter 2026–27): Beloved Snowmass restaurant Ullrhof is currently undergoing a complete rebuild, featuring seating for 600+, a new bar and lounge level, and a stunning mountain modern design. Notably, it will be Aspen Snowmass’ first fully electric restaurant, in line with Aspen One’s sustainability strategy of building all-electric across all new construction wherever possible. All of this work is well underway, with the planned reopening to take place in time for winter 2026-27.
These guest experience improvements are part of Aspen One’s $80 million investment in on-mountain infrastructure this year and reflect an intentional effort to accelerate upgrades across Aspen Snowmass in the coming years to maintain its position as North America’s premier mountain resort destination. These new developments follow recent enhancements including last season’s renovation of The Cabin and upgrade of the Coney Express lift at Snowmass, along with the Hero’s terrain expansion on Aspen Mountain.
On-Mountain Dining & Après Highlights
This winter, Aspen Snowmass will introduce an impressive array of new and refreshed on-mountain dining experiences, from playful pop-ups to award-winning menus, offering guests bold new flavors and elevated après-ski options across all four mountains.
Elk Camp Restaurant Expansion: Elk Camp will open this winter with a new 120-seat deck expansion featuring “umbrella”-style retractable walls that offer climate-secure comfort and panoramic views.
Playful Pop-Ups and Bold Flavors
- The Hot Dogger at Spider Sabich (Snowmass): As Ullrhof transforms, the Spider Sabich Race and Picnic Area will reopen for the first time in many years with The Hot Dogger, a pop-up featuring L.A.-based Sumo Dog and quick-serve slopeside fare.
- High Alpine & Alpin Room (Snowmass): High Alpine will introduce a global rotating cuisine concept, while fine dining restaurant Alpin Room will shift to French-inspired fare under award-winning chef Emily Oyer.
- The Cabin (Snowmass): The Cabin and its outdoor patio will feature street tacos, champagne, and heated lounge seating. Live music and other festivities to-be-announced will continue to make The Cabin the place to be for après at Snowmass.
- Merry-Go-Round (Aspen Highlands): This Aspen Highlands favorite will shift gears this year with a bold Southwestern-inspired menu and refreshed look.
Elevated Experiences at Altitude
- Eleven212 (Aspen Mountain): Perched atop Aspen Mountain at 11,212 ft., Eleven212 is Aspen Snowmass’s newest mountaintop après destination, accessible on foot or by skis. Guests can reserve A-frame cabins inspired by Aspen’s heritage, relax in fireside Adirondack chairs, or dance to live music and DJs—all with sweeping alpine views. This season will feature an updated menu and expanded music programming.
- Award-Winning Wine Programs: Aspen Snowmass is home to the only ski-in/ski-out wine programs in the U.S. with Wine Spectator Awards of Excellence, at not one, but four on-mountain restaurants: Sam’s, Alpin Room, The Cabin, and Cloud Nine.
- Snowcat Dinners continue at The Cabin this season, and after a multi-year hiatus, public snowcat dinners will return to Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro at Aspen Highlands.
World-Class Winter Events
Aspen Snowmass will host a blockbuster season of competition and cultural events, including Olympic-qualifying events, global sport showcases, and beloved community traditions such as Wintersköl and Aspen Gay Ski Week.
- Toyota U.S. Grand Prix & Olympic Team Naming: Buttermilk hosts the final Olympic-qualifying competition, Jan. 7-10, 2026, which will feature the nominations of the 2026 U.S. Olympic Ski & Snowboard Team for slopestyle and halfpipe athletes.
- 2026 X Games Aspen: Returning Jan. 23-25, 2026, for its 25th year with Aspen, featuring elite athletes, live music, and on-mountain entertainment.
- The Snow League: Returns Feb. 27-March 1, 2026, with team-based head-to-head heats following its successful 2025 debut.
Arts & Culture: ArtUP with Ed Ruscha
Art in Unexpected Places (ArtUP) returns for 2025–26 with world-renowned artist Ed Ruscha as this season’s partner artist for the annual lift ticket art program. Ruscha’s work has earned international recognition and has been featured globally in the Museum of Modern Art, The Whitney Museum of American Art, and The Guggenheim Museum, among others. This winter, his art will be featured on Aspen Snowmass lift tickets as part of the resort’s 20-year ArtUP tradition inspired by Aspen’s long history as a vibrant arts and culture community. Lift ticket imagery will be released in the coming weeks.
Make the Most of the Aspen Snowmass Experience
Aspen Snowmass’ world-class ski and snowboard school, premium rental services, and acclaimed on-mountain dining are at the heart of what differentiates the Aspen Snowmass experience. From first turns to private guides, curated gear to signature après spots, these offerings transform ski vacations into unforgettable moments.
Guests can book lessons, rentals, lift access, and dining reservations directly through the Aspen Snowmass app, which also features enhanced trail maps, real-time conditions, and improved on-mountain navigation for a seamless experience.
